31 replies to this topic

[snowybeagle]

I think its fair to say while Irish culture have been assimilated into the general American culture (perhaps warped out of recognition but hey its the thought that counts...) it is still celebrated and accepted by all.

As long as the Ancient Order of Hibernians remained the official organiser, it will remain distinctively Irish even though non-Irish also join the festivities.

In contrast, the Chingay Parade (妆艺大游行) in Singapore which originated as part of Chinese New Year Festivities is the one that could be truly said to be assimilated into the general Singaporean multi-ethnic culture, without the Chinese having any monopoly whatsoever on the organisation. That said, the term Chingay is not native to China, though it was associated with Chinese New Year until the 1970s.

[General_Zhaoyun]

I wonder what the term "Chingay" means.. I suppose it refers to the two tall sticks that performers wear on their feet during performance. Is it in Hokkien? What's the chinese character for that?

[urofpersia]

In contrast, the Chingay Parade (妆艺大游行) in Singapore which originated as part of Chinese New Year Festivities is the one that could be truly said to be assimilated into the general Singaporean multi-ethnic culture, without the Chinese having any monopoly whatsoever on the organisation. That said, the term Chingay is not native to China, though it was associated with Chinese New Year until the 1970s.

One of the few celebrations we can truly call our own. I took part in the 1991 Chingay parade playing drums... on stilts!

[FullofJoy]

Mere survival is not good enough. Man does not live on bread alone.

Many overseas Chinese people lose their ethnic identity.

I guess they are not given a choice..they live and grow up in a strange land ..A land that does not belongs to their Father....but they have no choice to learn the culture to survive to fit in....and later in time they just forget their original identity...but I won say many have loose their identity..there are also ppl who has not forgotten their roots....

Do you think it depends which country you migrate to??? hmmm..Just a question ..

[lingzhixiangu灵芝仙姑]

I wonder what the term "Chingay" means.. I suppose it refers to the two tall sticks that performers wear on their feet during performance. Is it in Hokkien? What's the chinese character for that?

The word “Chingay” was coined from its phonetic Chinese equivalent 妆艺, which means a decorated miniature stage or float borne (“a decorated float”) on the shoulders of the performers [指一种经过一番装
饰、扛在人们肩膀上，以供作表演一幕重要历史剧的小型舞台]. Chingay is not originated from Singapore, it first started in Penang, (in Malaya then) in 1880, as a celebration to “welcome the Spring” during the new year season in Georgetown (capital city of Penang). It is interesting to note that even donkeys were used in the early 1900s to carry and pull the float, replacing men. Chingay was spread to Johore in the 1960s. Singapore had its first Chingay procession in 1973. Since then it became an annual event. For over a decade, the procession toured different housing estates (from 1974 to 1984). Starting 1985, Orchard Road became a permanent venue, that attracted a wide following among tourists and Singaporeans. Parade procession did spread to other parts of Asia. Unfortunately the Chingay of Penang became extinct, while the name took root in Singapore. Only in 1990, Chingay made its evening debut (to celebrate 25 years of Singapore’s independence).

Source: http://www.chingay.o...ingay/index.asp

[phoenix_bladen]

Maybe for oversea Chinese outside of the West, namely the U.S. Many second, third or fourth generation oversea Chinese in the U.S. have completely blend in with the mainstream society without keeping their own cultural identity. Quite sad.

well actually for me it's quite different over here in toronto, canada....... maybe 30 years ago the chinese culture wasn't as strong as it is today there were alot of people around the ages 40-50 now that back in the 70's they wanted nothing ot do with the chinese because they viewed it as a backwarded society especially when china was a communist backwarded nation before it opened up.

but now today with the influx of hong kong people fleeing the 1997 take over and china becoming more modern and exciting as each day goes by alot of people in my generation that were born here have rediscovered their chinese roots. I know alot of people back in my high school that they grow up not knowing how to speak a chinese dialect and they regret it now...... yes our most important one is cantonese in toronto although mandarin is becoming more influential as i know like 1/10 chinese would speak it or more.

i live in Markham which is a suburban region of toronto or just a town itself (north of toronto) and here the chinese influence is undeniable....... you can see chinese plazas shopping malls of chinese style we have the biggest one in north america it's called " pacific mall" yes alot of people even non-chinese are starting to be very interested in learning our culture and i know alot of canadian born chinese over here in canada they are beginning to rediscover their roots.....

sure we may not be very fluent in the chinese language however we prefer to still eat at chinese restaurants, still go to karaokee's, still go to chinese shopping malls and i know alot of people are proud to see china come back to the top of this world and i know i am because i myself is a chinese born canadian.....

so in my opinion as china grows stronger and the overseas chinese come back together and rediscover their roots i think the chinese presence around the world will strengthen...... because right now i can go to the nearest chinese shopping mall and it would really feel like i am in hong kong..... yes our chinese community the leaders are very very active !

[Hendrik_2000]

well actually for me it's quite different over here in toronto, canada....... maybe 30 years ago the chinese culture wasn't as strong as it is today there were alot of people around the ages 40-50 now that back in the 70's they wanted nothing ot do with the chinese because they viewed it as a backwarded society especially
i live in Markham which is a suburban region of toronto or just a town itself (north of toronto) and here the chinese influence is undeniable....... you can see chinese plazas shopping malls of chinese style we have the biggest one in north america it's called " pacific mall" yes alot of people even non-chinese are starting to be very interested in learning our culture and i know alot of canadian born chinese over here in canada they are beginning to rediscover their roots.....

sure we may not be very fluent in the chinese language however we prefer to still eat at chinese restaurants, still go to karaokee's, still go to chinese shopping malls and i know alot of people are proud to see china come back to the top of this world and i know i am because i myself is a chinese born canadian.....

Wow it bring back memory when Markhan was nothing but endless farmland and no Chinese to be seen for miles around That place has come along way Now is nothing but Chinese plaza and restaurant, Huge houses and Hongki kids with BMW but Canada is nice land, tolerant and polite people but a bit boring though!

[General_Zhaoyun]

I guess they are not given a choice..they live and grow up in a strange land ..A land that does not belongs to their Father....but they have no choice to learn the culture to survive to fit in....and later in time they just forget their original identity...but I won say many have loose their identity..there are also ppl who has not forgotten their roots....

Do you think it depends which country you migrate to??? hmmm..Just a question ..

Actually, it's a natural process for overseas chinese to adapt to the culture of the country where he is born or grown up. There is actually a chinese idiom called "Ru Jin Sui Su 入境随俗" (entering a foreign place and adapt to the custom).

Usually, the 1st and 2nd generation immigrants will still retain their root culture, but the 3rd generation (those no longer born in China) will probably lose the language or cultural identity, if the family doesn't speak anymore chinese language. They are usually assimilated or integrated to the nationality or country where he belongs to. It really depends on the family.

To be honest, the chinese are probably more accustomed to retaining their root culture and language than other races/ethnicity. Usually, the german immigrants are completely assimilated in America. But the chinese tends to establish schools in order to maintain some link with their root language and culture.

In Singapore and Malaysia, chinese schools were founded that eventually allowed chinese language to be retained and take root making it one of the official languages in these countries. In Indonesia, there were also chinese schools, although over the past 20 years, there has been suppression of chinese language learning in Indonesia.

In the US, there are also some chinese language evening schools for kids to learn chinese. I've also been to a Taiwanese chinese school in the UK where kids continue to learn some chinese. It might be harder for those living in the west (esp. the 3rd generation) to retain their root culture, as the chinese are the minorities.

[phoenix_bladen]

Actually, it's a natural process for overseas chinese to adapt to the culture of the country where he is born or grown up. There is actually a chinese idiom called "Ru Jin Sui Su 入境随俗" (entering a foreign place and adapt to the custom).

Usually, the 1st and 2nd generation immigrants will still retain their root culture, but the 3rd generation (those no longer born in China) will probably lose the language or cultural identity, if the family doesn't speak anymore chinese language. They are usually assimilated or integrated to the nationality or country where he belongs to. It really depends on the family.

To be honest, the chinese are probably more accustomed to retaining their root culture and language than other races/ethnicity. Usually, the german immigrants are completely assimilated in America. But the chinese tends to establish schools in order to maintain some link with their root language and culture.

In Singapore and Malaysia, chinese schools were founded that eventually allowed chinese language to be retained and take root making it one of the official languages in these countries. In Indonesia, there were also chinese schools, although over the past 20 years, there has been suppression of chinese language learning in Indonesia.

In the US, there are also some chinese language evening schools for kids to learn chinese. I've also been to a Taiwanese chinese school in the UK where kids continue to learn some chinese. It might be harder for those living in the west (esp. the 3rd generation) to retain their root culture, as the chinese are the minorities.

i agree with you in some parts however in toronto our chinese tradition is kept very alive because our community is very strong i don't see it ever weakening anytime soon did you know where i live in markham white ppl are an minority? Chinese ppl account for 30% of the town's population that's pretty huge...... it really feels like New Hong Kong here no kidding ....... and yes i have to agree with you canada can be pretty boring but i'm glad the chinese community here is strong so we still get to enjoy bubble tea karaokee etc because if it's just pure canadian activity it would be soooo boring........ the only thing i can think of that white ppl would enjoy is clubbing.......

[General_Zhaoyun]

There seems to be a big Hongkong immigrant population in Toronta, probably that's what keep the community strong there.. good to hear that..

[Genghis_Khan]

yea..
we have a long history and rich culture and shouldn't forget who and where we come from...

[yongzheng freak]

yea..
we have a long history and rich culture and shouldn't forget who and where we come from...

Yep, after all, who else can boast, besides India and Egypt, of almost 5000 years of history and culture?? Not to mention inventions and skills that the west had struggled to perfect?? Like porcelain making, silk weaving, paper making, ship building (though we had lost the skill along the way), ink production (which i must say is far superior compared to the west's iron-gall ink that burns through paper) etc.....

[yehzhaofeng]

There are many rich Chinese in Canada because Canada's immigration process is easier. You have to pay a lump sum, and you can get into Canada, that's why many famous Hong Kongs stars have residence, or emigrated to Canada rather than the US. I'm 1st generation, although my parents and grandparents have been here well over 45 years.

[Genghis_Khan]

There are many rich Chinese in Canada because Canada's immigration process is easier. You have to pay a lump sum, and you can get into Canada, that's why many famous Hong Kongs stars have residence, or emigrated to Canada rather than the US. I'm 1st generation, although my parents and grandparents have been here well over 45 years.

Yeah, I heard that many Hong Kong star migrate to Canada too
Personally, I never been there.. I wonder how is the environment there suited the Chinese ?
I heard another favourite place to migrate were the New Zealand.
Are you from Canada ? Do you still speak or write Chinese ?
If you were given the opportunities to become Chinese Citizen by the PRC would u be happy and apply for it ?
But anyway I think Canada living standard is much better than China now... So, no point i ask u such question hehe... unless you want to go home China to find your root..

[Fechin]

Yep, after all, who else can boast, besides India and Egypt, of almost 5000 years of history and culture?? Not to mention inventions and skills that the west had struggled to perfect?? Like porcelain making, silk weaving, paper making, ship building (though we had lost the skill along the way), ink production (which i must say is far superior compared to the west's iron-gall ink that burns through paper) etc.....

Egypt has been dead for two thousand years. There is no relationship between the modern Egypt and the ancient Egypt(other than possibly they killed them off). India has been half dead for three thousand years. The descendent of ancient Indian is the untouchable class.

China is the only country who can boast of five thousand years of history.